Hannibal Television Series

The idea of the notorious “Hannibal the Cannibal” started off with Thomas Harris’ best selling book series, including Red Dragon, Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal, and Hannibal Rising. After the books were made and received the movies came into play following after the same names as the novels. The movies starred some famous actors, including Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster. Now Hannibal has been turned into a new and riveting TV series that you can stream and watch on one of these Comcast Internet Plans.

Bryan Fuller developed the show for NBC, and just like the books and movies it is a psychological thriller/horror, but in the form of a TV series. The show premiered on April 4th, 2013, with 13 episodes. Both following seasons also had 13 episodes. The second season first aired on February 28th, 2014, and the last and final season began on June 4th, 2015, and it will come to a close on August 29th, 2015. This last season seems to mark the end of Hannibal, as NBC has reportedly canceled the series.

Hannibal is primarily based on Thomas Harris’ first book, Red Dragon. There are a few changes from the book and movie, among them are differences in characters and characters’ names. Dr. Alan Bloom has become Alana “Al” Bloom, and the obnoxious journalist Freddy Lounds is now Fredrika who is a tabloid blogger. Will Graham seems to have one of the largest personality differences, however. Graham is much less confident and more downtrodden by a seeming psychological condition than his character was in the book and film. In the beginning of the series he is not even a field agent anymore due to his condition. Graham is still a criminal profiler, the same as before, and his unique ability to empathize with serial killers causes him great distress. Lecter is, as he was to some extent in the film and book, interested in psychoanalyzing Graham—and throughout Hannibal he gets ample opportunities to do so as he works alongside Graham as his partner.

The TV show seems to take many aspects from the novels and movies but also to put a different, unique twist on the characters and plot. The final season of Hannibal involves his escape to Europe alongside his psychiatrist Bedelia Du Maurier who becomes something of an accomplice in Hannibal’s crimes. Graham, Jack, and Alana are all set on finding Hannibal and stopping him from his infamous appetite. The third season combines elements both from Red Dragon and from Hannibal, as Bryan Fuller wanted as much to happen as possible before the end of the series.

Every season of Hannibal was designed so that it can stand alone as an ending without a following season, but it also gives a chance for a future season, too—thus it will be with the third season. Although there is still a chance that there might be a fourth season, that is not a guarantee right now, and the show has to start anew as far as a financial model goes.

Fans of Hannibal call themselves “fannibals” so, as you can see, there is a pretty adamant, die-hard fan base for the series who are devoted to the show and its characters. In general it has been pretty well- liked by its audience. Rotten Tomatoes gave the first season an approval rating of only 68%, but the second season got 100% and so far this last season has gotten a rating of 97%. There were quite a few fans, in fact, previous to the TV show—and a lot of them had their interest peaked by the mention of a television program, but were hesitant. A lot of these fans say that the series did not disappoint whatsoever, and was in fact better than they anticipated. They say the acting depicts the characters wonderfully. Other fans say the series has “taste” and “class” unlike many other shows currently on the air.

Critics call it boring and a “garbage show.” Those who liked the books and/or movies but not the TV series say that the show does not follow along the with the plot or characters of the movies and books very closely. Of course, there are also those who say that the series is bent—in that Hannibal is idolized even though he is evil.

5 Fun Facts About Hannibal

Each Episode Is Named After A Different Foreign Food

The Show Has A “Food Stylist”

Gillian Anderson Replaced Angela Lansbury In The Role of Dr. Du Maurier

David Tennant Auditioned For Hannibal Lecter

The Rest Of The Seasons Would Have Followed The Books (If It Hadn't Been Cancelled)